Year in Review

I used to do this survey every year for awhile but I think it's been a year or two. This morning while catching up on one of the many bloggers I stalk read, I noticed that she did the same survey and I thought: my brain can't come up with anything too original right now so why not?

1. What did you do in 2009 that you had never done before?

The obvious would be getting pregnant and giving birth to a beautiful daughter and everything that goes along with it. Also changing a poopy diaper. That's right, I had never changed a diaper before. I also totaled my car. As a fairly careful, if occasionally impatient but not doucheally (douchebagily?) impatient, I have only inflicted minor damage to my car before and usually while doing something really stupid (ie Backing down an alley in the pouring rain and running into a dumpster. Ahem.)

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I honestly don't think I made a specific resolution. Past experience with failing at every one I've made has kept me from doing them in recent years. This year, I am hesitant to make any because I worry that, you know, taking care of a new life and all will keep me from really committing to any one thing. I do, however, want to do better so I will make some:

• Read more. It has been several months at least since I last finished a book. I have two that I have started but have only gotten through the first few pages/chapters of (Up Till Now: The Autobiography by William Shatner and People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks, in case you're interested). And since I have a to be read stack that is out of control and a want to read list that is insanely long, I think I really need to work on this.
• On a related note: get a library card.
• Cook at home more.
• Related: eat more healthfully.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

You mean besides me? My childhood friend Rachel gave birth to her son Liam this past summer. And then a few people I knew from college but wasn't particularly close to.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

I had to think about this one for a minute but no. As far as I know, not anyone even remotely related to me which is amazing. If I have left someone out because I'm absent minded, let me know.

5. What countries did you visit?

Other than the one I live in? None, sadly. Before little bit came into the picture Brian and I had been talking about going to Ireland this fall. Obviously, that became completely out of the question. I get the feeling that we won't be doing any traveling outside the country for the next few years at least.

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?

This is going to sound depressing. I would like to have a better outlook on life. I'm going to share a story, and maybe it will embarrass the husband, but I think it's really sweet. We have an ornament on our tree that is this little circular mailbox that says "Letters to Santa." When I took it out this year, I noticed that there was paper in it and I had completely forgotten that Brian had written something and put in there. At first he didn't want me to read it, but I don't like secrets and I browbeat wheedled asked really him really nicely until he gave in. It said: I want Kirsten to be happier. Commence the groaning now. So, there you go.

7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched on your memory, and why?

I always hate this question because usually no specific date comes to mind. However, I do have two. March 12th, the day my pregnancy test was positive and November 8th, the day my daughter was born.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

I feel like this question is asking me to list some huge award or promotion or something like that, but I'm afraid that I don't work and even if I did where I have worked has never awarded me with anything. Seriously. I was voted employee of the month at my CPK the month they decided that they weren't going to do plaques or give bonuses for that anymore; so, that doesn't count. And despite the fact that I have been told I deserved it, I never won the Mother Bread award at Bread Co. Instead, someone who it turned out was stealing was the one who won it. But I digress. Achievement wise I think figuring out what it is I want to do with my life, whether I succeed in it or not, has been my biggest accomplishment.

9. What was your biggest failure?

I think I feel like a failure the most when I haven't been the best wife, or best mother, that I possibly could be.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

When I went to the emergency room, they asked me if I had any illnesses and my response was, "Does being pregnant count?" Reason for trip to the emergency room: I fell down my front stairs and severely sprained the ligaments on the top of my foot.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Ummm. Most of the things I buy are trivial and although I did spend a lot on my new car, I can't really say that it was the best thing I bought. I'm going to have to say it was the SUPER SECRET SURPRISE PRESENT that I got for my friend just for fun. I like making people smile especially for a totally unexpected reason.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

My husband. Everyday (almost, he's not perfect after all) he amazes me with how supportive and loving he is. I don't think I tell him often enough how much I appreciate what he does for me.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

There are a few; but, in the spirit of a new year, I will not detail that behavior here.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Bills, bills and more bills.

15. What did you get really excited about?

I feel like a broken record: the birth of my daughter.

16. What song will always remind you of 2009?

Uhh...well, I can tell you what song my iTunes played the most. "Dark Blue" by Jack's Mannequin. I'm pretty musically challenged these days.

17. Compared to this time last year are you:

• happier or sadder? About the same
• thinner or fatter? Oddly, about the same since I lost about ten pounds before I got pregnant
• richer or poorer? Financially, definitely poorer. In everything else, I'd have to say richer.

18. What do you wished you'd done more of?

Read, knit, cook, bake. Spend more time friends and less time as a hermit.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?

Cry for no good reason.

20. How did you spend Christmas?

Pre-Christmas weekend, we traveled to scenic Toledo, Ohio for my mother-in-law's sixtieth birthday. There was much sleeping and eating and going to the art museum and dealing with a fussy schedule interrupted baby. Then I got sick. Then we opened many presents on Christmas morning while the baby slept through the entire thing. Then I got even sicker and we had lunchmeat sandwiches for dinner. But on Boxing Day we went to the Botanical Gardens and it was all better.

21. Did you fall in love in 2009?

With a perfect baby daughter.

22. What was your favorite TV program?

I'm so over television right now. I watch reruns of NCIS and Bones and that makes me perfectly happy. Although I do enjoy Castle.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

I'm trying not to hate anyone, but I'd have to say I just hate the same people.

24. What was the best book you read?

I haven't done a whole lot of reading as I've said before, but I really enjoyed The Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins. Side note: Amazon finally has a release date for the third book. August 2010! Whoo!

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

I have terrible taste in music.

26. What did you want and get?

A new car, although not in the way it happened. A new job, which unfortunately turned out to suck almost as much as the old job.

27. What did you want and not get?

I want for nothing.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

Do you know, the last movie I saw in the theatres was Harry Potter? God I'm lame. I would have to say the new Star Trek was my favorite though.

29. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?

I turned 27 this year and on my birthday I worked in the morning and then Brian took me to the Melting Pot. And then I envied all the people who could drink.

30. What is the one thing that would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Again, I want for nothing. I think I've had an amazingly good year despite some of the low moments.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?

Whatever fit over my ever-expanding ass. Sweat pants and big t-shirts.

32. What kept you sane?

An amazing husband and amazing friends.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Barack Obama. But mostly because I just love listening to him speak.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

Definitely health care and all the stupid stupid people out there that don't realize that universal health care is not some communist plot to take down the American way of life.

35. Who did you miss?

Blake. I wish she didn't live in New Orleans.

36. Who was the best new person you met?

Meredith. And her crazy husband Frank who I swear is just like Brian.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009?

Money can't buy you love. No wait, that's a song. Nothing comes to mind right now, I'll get back to you.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year?

"I want my life to make more sense..." from Pavement Tune by The Frames.

Well, that's all folks. I'll see you next year.

Things and Stuff

Today I have accomplished the following things:

• Finished the Washington Post crossword (with minimal hints) at 3:30 am.
• Had biscuits and coffee.
• Took a shower.
• Also, straightened my hair, brushed my teeth, washed my face and put on makeup. How the hell did this happen?

Today I need to do the following:

• Fold laundry. Also put away the dirty laundry that has accumulated in random places around the house.
• Knit. Still have two half finished Christmas presents which need to get done.
• Clean the kitchen.
• Bake cookies with Desiree!
• Relax.

Now that I've bored you all with my to do list...

It has been awhile since I last posted and even longer since I posted something that didn't have anything to do with football. Life goes on. Baby eats and sleeps and poops. She has also developed a slight cold thanks to my inability to go one Christmas season without getting sick. Go me! It is possibly one of the most pathetic and adorable things ever. She snores in such a ridiculously cute way! Fortunately, it's nothing serious - trust me, I obsessively check her temperature and she has yet to get a fever - and although she sleeps a little more than usual, she's still eating plenty and doesn't seem too uncomfortable.

Now that I've bored you with baby gushing...

I am in love with the Botanical Gardens. Yes. Even in the dead of winter. I could spend hours taking pictures of every plant in the Linnean House. Easily my favorite part of the gardens (except for the rose garden, but everything is dead right now). It is generally very quiet - not a lot of people go in there - and it smells delicious. Every time we go, I think its all the tea trees that smell that way but as it turns out, it's actually the olive trees. Weird that I like the smell of olive trees when olives themselves make me want to gag. If it hadn't snowed last night - not that I'm complaining, I love the snow - I would totally be there this morning enjoying my free admission before noon. Anyhoodle, a couple of pictures to round out this mish mash of randomness:

Dying roses and snow covered garden

Whee! I like model trains Daddy!

NFL Picks, Week One Billion

Oops. Overslept (originally typed oversplet) this morning. Guess what though? We have the NFL network now. Aren't we cool? Instead of actually watching the game we can just watch the stats from the games. Awesome.

Thursday game: PIT vs CLE: I laugh at the actual outcome of this game but since I would never have picked the Browns, I have to claim I said Steelers

NO vs ATL: So Brian tells me that Atlanta is missing its quarterback and starting running back, but I would never have bet against the Saints anyway. Saints

GB vs CHI: I guess I'll go with Green Bay, or something. Packers

DEN vs IND: I like Denver's logo better, but I'm not sure they can win against the Colts. So there you go. Colts

BUF vs KC: This is just a game of crap. But I'm going with the Bills

DET vs BAL: Oh, God. Ravens

SEA vs HOU: Well, I guess I gotta pick the Lone Star State team, on account of me hating teal and all. Texans

MIA vs JAX: I have no smart-ass remarks for this one. Ugh. Dolphins

CIN vs MIN: Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Just to be contrary, I'm gonna pick the Bengals.

CAR vs NE: Elvis beats up on big cats. Probably also little cats. Maybe dogs? He was a lousy person (I'm only saying this because I now know that Sean reads this). Patriots.

NYJ vs TB: Even though their logo sucks donkey balls, I'm saying J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS

STL vs TEN: The Titans lost an important game last week, and are going to come out of the locker room very pissed off. Maybe they can use their flaming thumbtack logo to take down the lambs...I mean, Rams. Titans.

WAS vs OAK: Black and silver is better than maroon and gold. That's just terrible. Raiders.

SD vs DAL: The Chargers' logo is a stupid freaking lightning bolt. Not that Dallas's is any better - just some boring star. I guess I'll go with the Chargers.

PHI vs NYG: The Giants have lost something like six of the last seven games. Even though the Eagles win a color that is close to teal (Brian tells me it's "Pine," they're probably going to win against a team with a classic, throwback logo. Eagles.

ARI vs SF: Gold and red, as previously mentioned, is ugly. And let's face it, Kurt Warner is still sexy. Cardinals.

NFL Picks, Week Thirteen

In the interest of full disclosure: yes, I am doing my picks at 7 pm on a Sunday, however, I haven't turned on the television all day and so I only know the outcome of two of the games due mostly to facebook statuses. See if you can guess which two.

NYJ vs BUF: Okay, I also know who won this game because it was on Thursday but since I find the Bills color scheme to be an eyesore despite New York's lame logo, I would have picked the Jets

STL vs CHI: In terms of logos, St Louis wins hands down. But they suck. A lot. But Chicago is not all the great either. Conundrum. Bears

TB vs CAR: They both suck. As teams. Panthers

HOU vs JAX: I hate teal. Texans

DEN vs KC: Flaming horse head! Broncos

TEN vs IND: The Titans are not so good. Not bad. But not so good. The Colts are very good, apparently unhindered by their boring logo-ness. Colts

PHI vs ATL: Michael Vick returns to Atlanta. Big fricking deal. Falcons

NO vs WAS: HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Saints

OAK vs PIT: Ben Roethlisberger is a hoosier. But at least he doesn't play for the Raiders. Steelers

DET vs CIN: I have asked Brian at least twice this week if Carson Palmer played for the Bengals. I think my brain has gone fuzzy from the baby. Both times I asked this because I couldn't remember if he was related to Jesse Palmer, who - if I remember correctly - was on the Bachelor before he crapped out of the NFL. Bengals

NE vs MIA: Dolphins. Teal. Ack. Patriots

SD vs CLE: Did you know that the Browns logo is an orange helmet. Shouldn't it be a Brown helmet? Chargers

DAL vs NYG: Texas pride! Cowboys

SF vs SEA: Pain. My eyes hurt from the horrible color. 49ers

MIN vs ARI: Two cranky old men duke it out. Vikings

BAL vs GB: I like purple. Packers (Fooled you!)

Patience

I have never had much patience. I bet you're wondering how I managed to survive almost five years in food service without it. Fortunately, I'm very good at pretending to have patience. I have spent years cultivating my ability to look like I'm not impatient while in my head I am secretly yelling, "Oh my GOD! Will you just make up your mind already!" Anyone who has ridden in the car with me can also attest to this since while driving I tend to be very verbal about what I think of the other drivers on the road. I was once trapped behind an old man going twenty miles per hour (I shit you not) on the interstate and I wanted to beat my head into the steering wheel.

I spent my entire pregnancy being impatient. I blame the back pain. Perhaps my impatience wore off on the little one since she decided to appear ten days early. Since then, however, I have had to force myself to be calm. You can't rush a newborn. She will eat for as long as she wants to and there is nothing I can to do to speed up the process. This can be especially frustrating when she awakens in the middle of the night and I would like nothing more than to go back to sleep. The second night in the hospital was the worst. Since I was breastfeeding, this can be a very long process - especially in the early days. We're talking five plus hours. From about nine pm to three am she was feeding off and on and every time I thought she was finished and went to put her back in her bassinet, she started screaming bloody murder. To make matters worse, I must have had the worse nurse on the face of the planet who didn't seem to give a crap that I was breastfeeding and I did not want to give my daughter formula or a pacifier. So, she was crying and I was crying and by the time she finally went to sleep, I looked like I had been punched in the face. My eyes were practically swollen shut.

Good news, though, after all of that everything seems so much easier. Sure there are times when I want to scream. She's crying and crying and I've done everything I can think of to make her feel better. Is she dry? Is she fed? Is she burped? What the hell else do I need to do? But then there are times when I have reached a completely zen like state and no matter what, I will do everything in my power to make my daughter happy.

The first of many lessons that she will teach me: Patience.